Harnessing Data to Improve Early Childhood Outcomes in Colorado

Data is more than just numbers—it’s a powerful tool that drives meaningful change in early childhood systems.

HealthySteps specialists discuss data at a professional development retreat.

At Assuring Better Child Health & Development (ABCD), we believe that data is more than just numbers—it’s a powerful tool that drives meaningful change in early childhood systems. By leveraging data, we refine our programs, measure impact, and advocate for policies that better serve children and families across Colorado.

ABCD’s work is guided by three core tenets that shape our approach to improving early childhood systems:

1. As the Colorado intermediary for HealthySteps, we support 30 sites across the state in implementing this evidence-based program within pediatric primary care, ensuring young children and their families receive comprehensive developmental support

2. Our family experience efforts strengthen networks across Colorado, making it easier for families to navigate early identification and intervention services. We do this by bringing families and providers together, collecting family experience surveys, hosting focus groups, and highlighting family voice in our program planning.

3. Lastly, we provide professional development training to early childhood professionals, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills needed to support children’s development. Through customized consultation, we assist frontline providers in enhancing their screening, referral, and follow-up processes to ensure timely and appropriate care for every child.

   
   

HealthySteps: A Data-Driven Approach to Early Childhood Development

HealthySteps is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program designed to transform pediatric primary care. By embedding child development experts—HealthySteps Specialists—into pediatric teams, the program offers a tiered model of services:

• Tier 1: Universal Services – All families with children aged 0-3 receive developmental and family needs screenings, including assessments of social determinants of health.

• Tier 2: Short-Term Support – Families benefit from brief consultations addressing specific concerns, ensuring timely interventions.

• Tier 3: Comprehensive Services – For families requiring more intensive support, ongoing preventive team-based well-child visits are provided.

  
  

Ensuring that HealthySteps is implemented with fidelity is essential for achieving positive outcomes for children and families. Fidelity to the program ensures consistent program delivery across sites and helps maintain the effectiveness of services. ABCD supports this by collecting and analyzing data on eight core components that guide implementation statewide.

HealthySteps program director engages with a HealthSteps specialist to identify how data can be better leveraged for program implementation.

For example, one of the core components of Tier 3 services is following up with families after an early intervention referral to track its status. Tracking referrals is key to supporting families in initiating services – if specialists can’t track referrals, they can’t know if the family accessed the support they needed. Our analysis of recent annual site reporting data revealed that many sites struggled with this step. To address this challenge, we collaborated with HealthySteps Specialists to understand the barriers and then enhanced our database by adding a new referral tracking tab. Moving forward, specialists will receive reminders for follow-ups, ensuring that families who receive referrals are supported through the process.

By systematically tracking and analyzing this data, we not only improved HealthySteps fidelity scores but, more importantly, increased the likelihood that referrals result in families receiving the services they need.

Data Collection and Reporting Mechanisms

To monitor and support HealthySteps program fidelity, ABCD employs several data-driven strategies:

• Annual Site Reporting – Each HealthySteps site submits a comprehensive annual report detailing their adherence to the program’s core components. This report provides insights into areas of strength and opportunities for improvement, allowing ABCD to tailor technical assistance accordingly.

• Quarterly Data Dashboards – Sites regularly input Tier 3 data into our centralized database. This data encompasses demographic information and specifics about each well-child visit. By analyzing these dashboards, we can identify trends, address challenges promptly, and share best practices across sites.

• Annual Site Visits – In addition to quantitative data collection, ABCD conducts annual site visits to gain qualitative insights into program implementation. These visits provide an opportunity to engage directly with staff, observe operations, and identify site-specific needs. By incorporating on-the-ground feedback, we can offer more targeted support and ensure that HealthySteps is effectively integrated into each practice.

  
  

For example, during a recent site visit, we reviewed the site's quarterly data dashboard alongside the HealthySteps Implementation Team. This dashboard tracks trends in Tier 2 and Tier 3 data. Through this review, we discovered that the HealthySteps Specialist had misunderstood the enrollment criteria, leading to underreferrals. After clarifying the criteria and providing guidance, the site saw a 60% increase in families enrolled in Tier 3 HealthySteps services within one quarter.

Family Experience & Engagement: Using Data to Drive Impact

Two childcare providers discuss child development at a family experience workshop.

ABCD ensures that families are active partners in shaping early childhood services. Through surveys, focus groups, and engagement metrics, we assess family experiences with screening, referrals, and support services. This data informs best practices and policy decisions.

By analyzing service access trends, we refine training and resources to reduce disparities and empower families as advocates. Provider training integrates family feedback to enhance early intervention efforts.

Our data-informed co-design model brings families into decision-making, ensuring engagement strategies align with their needs. Tracking participation and impact strengthens ABCD’s ability to secure funding for stipends, accessibility services, and leadership initiatives—sustaining meaningful family involvement across Colorado’s early childhood landscape.

Beyond improving service delivery, ABCD uses data to advocate for systemic change. Robust data underscores the efficacy of our programs, equipping us with compelling evidence to advocate for policies that support early childhood development initiatives. For example, our team recently testified in front of the Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee to support SB25-017 “Measures to Support Early Childhood Health”, using data to support the state legislation. The Committee voted to advance the bill to the Senate floor.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement Through Training and Professional Development

ABCD is dedicated to the ongoing growth of professionals within our network. We offer a range of training sessions and professional development opportunities, informed by data and feedback:

• Needs Assessment – By evaluating data from our sites and feedback from families, we identify pressing topics and areas where additional training is needed.

• Post-Event Surveys – After each training session, participants provide feedback, allowing us to assess the session’s effectiveness and make necessary adjustments for future events.

This commitment to continuous improvement ensures that our team remains at the forefront of best practices in early childhood development.

In Summary

By putting data into action, ABCD ensures that early childhood services are not just well-intentioned but truly effective. Through HealthySteps and our broader statewide initiatives, we are building a stronger foundation for Colorado’s children—one data-driven decision at a time.